Lemonade

Not ready to go bed, I got in formation and purchased a subscription to Tidal, an online streaming music service. I was on Twitter and kept seeing Lemonade appear up and down my time line. Even HBO was offering a free day of service to watch it. Lemonade was the second visual album and the sixth solo album of musical icon, Beyoncé. I absolutely adored her first visual album, titled – Beyoncé. I was not sure what to expect from Lemonade. So I hit play and watched Beyoncé do her thing. On my first round of Lemonade, I was captivated by the stunning visuals. Each frame was executed to perfection and captioned appropriately. Each song had its own unique story, which was communicated clearly. While I enjoyed every track, my favorite was “Daddy Song.” It’s a country number that she absolutely slays. There is a poignant video of her interacting with her father, which I thought was so beautiful. The presence of fathers in the lives of their daughters was such a powerful statement.

On my second round of Lemonade, I simply listened. No visuals, just the music. Lemonade for me was 65 minutes highlighting the cycles of love. The cycles are broken down further into eleven chapters: Intuition, Denial, Anger, Apathy, Emptiness, Accountability, Reformation, Forgiveness, Resurrection, Hope, and Redemption. After my second round, I began to think and question some things.

Do we subconsciously give men a get out jail for free card for cheating?

Why do we take them back after cheating?

Is taking someone back after cheating really a symbol of love or weakness?

Can painful relationships contribute to the development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

“PTSD According to the American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is a mental disorder that can develop after a person is exposed to a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions, or other threats on a person’s life. Symptoms may include disturbing thoughts, feelings, or dreams related to the events, mental or physical distress to trauma-related cues, attempts to avoid trauma-related cues, alterations in how a person thinks and feels, and increased arousal.”

As women, are we under increased pressure to confirm to society’s idea of a “good woman”?

Why as women do we place so much emphasis on having the “right” shape in order to draw the attention of men?

Does living life outside of the box and not conforming to the standards of others bring about true freedom?

Is marriage a form of oppression?

Who truly has the black woman’s back?

Beauty does not guarantee that you will not get cheated on.

The bond of sisterhood is truly empowering and precious.

Every move you make does not have to be announced.

Keep your business out of the street

It is okay to the take the cape off and resist the urge to be “superwoman.”

Yes, watching Lemonade prompted these questions and thoughts. I know I am not the only one because several think pieces have been written since the debut of Lemonade. One album generating this much dialogue, is indeed a great thing. Much has been said about Beyoncé, but one thing is sure, she rises to the occasion each and every time without missing a beat.